A former DUP leader, Paul Donaldson, is on trial at Newry Crown Court facing historical sexual offence allegations. According to reports, Donaldson tells police he “can’t get head round” the allegations, describing that he struggles to understand them. During the trial, he also denies specific claims made by the prosecution and/or witnesses. One reported denial is that he treated an alleged rape victim “like an object.” The accounts in the coverage describe Donaldson giving evidence in his own defence at the sexual offences trial. The reporting focuses on his statements to investigators and his position in court, with the allegations relating to conduct said to have occurred in the past. The sources do not agree on additional details beyond these themes, but they converge on the core points: Donaldson is standing trial, he denies claims about his treatment of the complainant, and he characterises his reaction to the allegations as not being able to comprehend them. The trial continues as the court hears evidence from the prosecution and the defence.